Babbacombe Downs in 360º

Enjoy a 360 virtual tour of Babbacombe Downs, Torquay one of my favourite views in the bay, especially on a clear day

Location/Facts History Things To Do Where To Eat & Drink Getting There Getting Around Helpful Tips Weather Sunrise & Sunset Nearby Destinations

Update: 27th July 2020

Added images to Babbacombe Theatre end and added links to surrounding areas

Even as a local I enjoy a little stroll along the promenade, on a clear day you can spot the distant landmark of Portland Bill in Dorset. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite clear on the day I took this shot (will try again another day) It’s a great place to just chill and gaze out to sea. There are plenty of great pubs and cafes nearby if you get peckish, including the award winning Hanburys fish and chips. The Buccaneer is my favourite pub on the downs and Angels Cafe has to be one of the best cafes in the bay, as such you may need to book in advance.

If you’ve got time head down to the beaches, you can use the Babbacombe Cliff Railway (definitely on the way back up) it’s a great way to get down the cliff to Oddicombe Beach. If you walk a little further along using the boardwalk you’ll pass the Babbacombe waterfall on your way to Babbacombe Beach, where you can often spot dolphins and seals playing offshore.

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Location/Facts

Babbacombe Downs is the highest cliff top promenade in England 300 feet above sea level. The downs is a wide parterre laid out with lawns and flower beds with seats and shelters that look out over the blue reaches of Babbacombe Bay.

Awarded the Green flag award which recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces
Ridgeway House once worth £1.5m was owned by Mr Lyle of Tate & Lyle Sugar, built with panoramic views of the coastline as a retirement refuge in the 30’s. In February 2010 it was purchased by retired police officer Sue Diamond, who made a telephone bid at auction of £154,500, without viewing it or having a survey done. Just eight days after the auction her garden and swimming pool fell off the top of the 300 foot cliff onto Oddicombe beach below, following a massive landslide. Miss Diamond tried fighting a legal battle with the builder who sold it to her, but the judge ruled in the sellers favour and she had to pay what was owed. If it seems to good to be true, it usually is. Always get that survey guys! 😲

History

Things To Do

Babbacombe Beach
Babbacombe Theatre
Bygones
Cliff Railway
Kents Cavern
Pic-nic
Tessier Gardens
Model Village
Oddicombe Beach

Where To Eat & Drink

Angels Cafe
Babbacombe Hotel
Babbacombe Inn
Buccaneer Inn
Cary Arms
Hamiltons
Hanburys Fish & Chips
Royal Hotel

Getting Around

Getting around is easy as it’s all level paths. If you want to head down to the beach then the old funicular cliff railway will take you up and down for a small charge.

Getting There

Car, Plenty of free parking around the downs itself and surrounding streets, sat-nav, TQ1 3LP.
Bus, No. 22 from the strand Torquay harbourside.

Helpful Tips